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I have a primip 20 weeks pregnant with twins, recently in my care who has been taking this medication for 3 years (with excellent results). I have been able to find very little information about it's safety in pregnancy, except that it is a category three drug. Where might I find further information with which to advise my client.
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Amy:
At this time we have almost no data on desvenlafaxine. We do have a lot more on the parent of this drug, venlafaxine. Venlafaxine is metabolized in the body to desvenlafaxine.
The data on venlafaxine does not really suggest major developmental abnormalities. The data is not really clear. We do see a higher rate of discontinuation syndrome in infants exposed to venlafaxine, but true teratogenesis is not evident.
The other side of the equation, is that stopping this drug, and living with a worsened depression, if FAR worse than the side effects of this drug. Almost everyone in this field now recommends treatment of depression over the major complications induced by untreated depression.
My advice would be for her to stay on her desvenlafaxine during pregnancy.
Tom Hale Ph.D.
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